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Id make him take the course and buy all the safety gear, 90% of the time when people get hurt on bikes its because they are the idiots wearing DC shoes and shorts and crash. If you cant convince him against a bike try and make him get something not as fast as a sport bike. As long as he dosent drive stupid he should be okay, But at the same time most Motorcycle crashes i see are caused by other people changing lanes into bikes

Just tell him that there are a bunch of asian people at/near/around Berkeley. Maybe he'll think again?

There are Asians in Berkeley? You know, I asked him about if there were Asians there and he assured me there were none. "Don't worry, Dad, no Asians" he said over and over to me. That was the only real concern I had.

Now I have a bigger worry!

Thanks...that's another good image to plant in his head...along with the Berkeley drug culture.

...which makes you more conscience and prevents you from doing anything stupid...

Does that really apply to the average 18-year old..???

Dmax, your concern is a valid one. I can tell you so because I've almost been plowed down a couple times by careless drivers. Also because I know how I ride today versus when I was 18, and there's a big difference. I'm a natural when it comes to driving/riding but some of the things I did back in the day make me cringe today. I'm lucky to be sitting here typing this out.

A lot of unknowns make you more vulnerable on a bike - other road-users, adrenalin, road conditions, weather conditions, lack of a crumple zone, just plain old stress etc. etc.

But you need to rationalize your fear. If you think he's not ready for the responsibility yet, that's your judgement to make as a dad. However, don't expect to remote-control him and keep him off a bike long-term, that's not fair. Also, if he is bent on getting on a bike, you can't keep him off one. If it's not now, it'll happen next year, couple years down the line, sometime.

IMHO, you need to first put your foot down with the uncle and let him know clearly that he's not helping your son with this without your consent. Then you should have the conversation with your 18-year old, but be reasonable. Tell him you think it's best he waits until he's older, until he's out of college. The only way you can get him to go with your idea is to be reasonable, frank and caring. You need to appeal to his best senses and he needs to understand that your motivation is because you're more experienced in life and are concerned about his safety above everything.

I guess that's the best you can do. It may take some persistence on your part, but be patient. Maybe he'll grow out of the idea, maybe he won't. If he doesn't, then you need to think of the ways you can serve as a facilitator to introduce him to riding responsibly when the time is right.

There are Asians in Berkeley? You know, I asked him about if there were Asians there and he assured me there were none. "Don't worry, Dad, no Asians" he said over and over to me. That was the only real concern I had.

Now I have a bigger worry!

Thanks...that's another good image to plant in his head...along with the Berkeley drug culture.

i'm on the fence about getting a bike right now and my parents' disapproval is honestly a fairly big part of my indecision, and i'm a grown man. the best thing you can do is be reasonable about it. if he goes to berkeley, i'm sure he's not an idiot. tell him why you don't want him on a bike and maybe he'll reconsider. if he doesn't though, make sure he rides safe.

I know Berkeley has a large Asian population. Personally, I'm glad. If we didn't have Asians in this country, we wouldn't have to push to excel in many subjects.

I don't have a bigoted bone in my body...I was just joking (Asian people, stop sending me your hate PMs!)

My strongest point with my son is that I love him and he'd destroy my life worse than his own if something happened to him.

My wife is helping him finance this and my moron bil is getting involved. I haven't talked to bil in years...if I told him to back off, he'd want to get even more involved. He's a d!ck...even compared to the worst here!

Griffin...btw...you serious about the offer to butt rape him? You are such an exceptional fanatic, I have to say! PM sent!

I usually don't post on this forum, but I wanted to chime in on this. I, myself is or was a recreational rider. However, I recently lost a good friend of mine who got involved in a motorcycle accident. I was the one who always thought that riding motorcycle is not as dangerous. Now, I have a different perspective on it. Sure, it's a blast and the adrenaline you get from it is almost unrivaled. You could be the safest and the most responsible rider on the street; however, a one bad mistake or judgement from a driver can put your life in jeopardy, as this was what happened to my friend. I'm not trying to scare other riders out there, but it's my 0.02 and take it for what it's worth.

Do you know anybody that works at a trauma center? ER? Motorcycle riders are called "organ donors".

I know everyone's going to argue with me on this, but the fact is that you are less safe on a motorcycle than you are in a car. Maybe most motorcycle accidents are caused by the idiots/squids riding them, but there are also way too many posts about guys who have ridden for 20-30 years accident free, and then get rear ended by some 19 year old teenage girl who was texting. As much as you want to and try to be situationally aware 100% of the time, sometimes that 0.5% of the time you're not watching your mirrors are when you get hit, and all it takes is one hit to completely change your life.

Talk to him and see why he wants to get a motorcycle? Does he just want to look cool? Does he think that motorcycles make you feel more connected, free, and open compared to cars? Or that it's better on gas (yes it is but nobody gets one because of this), can split lanes (in CA), and provides more of a thrill just driving around town? Figure out why he wants it and figure out how he can get it, without risking his life on the streets. Figure out why you don't want him to ride it. Then, you can come up with a compromise.

Maybe you can get him a track bike, or maybe you can get him a track car and split paying for track days? Maybe there's a way of restricting when and where he can ride it?

I love to ride! I've owned two R6's and have riden for years. Honestly, how you ride greatly effects how safe it is, but regardless all it takes is one yahoo to ruin your day. Most of my friends that ride have been down; I was lucky enough to never go down. There is a saying, "there are those of us who have gone down, and those who will."

I decided it just wasn't worth it in southern california and took up flying instead since it was always a childhood dream.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lair

I might dive in this spring and pick up a Road King or a street glide.

I know everyone's going to argue with me on this, but the fact is that you are less safe on a motorcycle than you are in a car. Maybe most motorcycle accidents are caused by the idiots/squids riding them, but there are also way too many posts about guys who have ridden for 20-30 years accident free, and then get rear ended by some 19 year old teenage girl who was texting. As much as you want to and try to be situationally aware 100% of the time, sometimes that 0.5% of the time you're not watching your mirrors are when you get hit, and all it takes is one hit to completely change your life.

Anyone who argues with you over that point is an idiot.

Quote:

Originally Posted by CRZY BMW

I love to ride! I've owned two R6's and have riden for years. Honestly, how you ride greatly effects how safe it is, but regardless all it takes is one yahoo to ruin your day. Most of my friends that ride have been down; I was lucky enough to never go down. There is a saying, "there are those of us who have gone down, and those who will."

I decided it just wasn't worth it in southern california and took up flying instead since it was always a childhood dream.

I'm young so I don't have kids but I can say that I got my motorcycle license when I was 17 and started riding my dads r6 before then. My parents were cool with it on one condition. I had to take the safety class. Also my parents were strict where I took it. Once I turned 18 though they didn't care as much because I bought a gsxr600. I also have gone down as well and I didn't ride for almost a year because I was so damn scared. The more you resist him getting it the more he is going to want to. He will have to learn to ride it and I say take the class. Obviously its different being that you are in Cali and traffic is a whole different situation then on the east coast but like someone else said. The thing you have to worry about it other drivers not your son. If you feel he is responsible enough for a bike you shouldn't have problems but if you don't then he shouldn't own one. That's why my parents let me get mine and start riding young.